Sinclaire M. Scala *57

Sinclaire Scala, an aerospace engineer who had worked in the early space program, died Feb. 19, 2011, after a brief illness. He was 81.

Scala received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the City College of New York in 1950, and a master’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Delaware in 1953. In 1957, he earned a Ph.D. in aeronautical engineering from Princeton. He later received an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at Penn.

During his lengthy aerospace career, Scala was employed by General Electric in Pennsylvania for more than 25 years as a manager and director in research and development. He worked on the development of heat-shield technology allowing spacecraft to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere safely. He lectured at universities, including MIT.

Scala also was a senior research and development executive at Fairchild Republic and Grumman, both on Long Island, N.Y. After relocating to Florida in the 1990s, he was a principal corrosion engineer for Concurrent Technologies Corp.

He is survived by Enid, his wife of nearly 60 years; two children; and four grandchildren. A son predeceased him.

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.